We recommend some of our own favourite walks - one for each day of your six-night holiday, or if you wish you can plan your own itineraries – we will be pleased to help you. Large-scale high-lighted IGN Maps (www.ign.fr) and professional quality route notes are provided for each of the walks.

Sentier d’Interpretation                                                                                                                    6km/4miles

An afternoon walk to stretch your legs after your journey to le Moulin. The route is waymarked and gives a chance to become orientated. Undulating, pretty and unspoiled and, even on a Sunday afternoon, you will see few other people.

option 1 – Les Cinq Communes Walk                                                                                             14km/9miles

Up le Moulin’s rocky track through woods with spring orchids. South, with a patchwork of pastures, woods and ancient hedgerows. You will see medieval pantiled farmhouses and a 1619 fortified farm. If the time of year is right there will be swallowtail butterflies, skylarks, hoopoe and hen harriers, to name a few.

option 2 – Route du Busseau                                                                                                       23km/14miles

Ford Moulin’s stream (or use the foot bridge if you prefer) and climb through the woods to the open pasture. Continue west where families of immaculate Parthenaise cattle peacefully graze. Visit the 1,000-year-old villages of Scillé and le Busseau. In spring and early summer there is a profusion of flowers.

option 1 – Coulonges Country Market  & St Pompain                                                                     10km/6miles

Visit the local-produce market at Coulonges-sur-l’Autize on Tuesday morning, where the locals meet and shop. See the last remaining pissoire in the whole world. Walk in the venelles of St-Pompain. Climb the abandoned viaduct, have a picnic by the roman bridge and stroll in the cool of the walnut groves.

option 2– Scillé and les Jinchères                                                                                                       up to 15km/9miles

An intriguing labyrinth of pleasing lanes and tracks north of le Moulin. You’ll probably not see another soul. Pass through cool woods and you will see clear streams, meadows and pastures and an ancient pixie bridge. Our map show all the paths that are open so you can choose how far you wish to walk.

Le Beugnon Lakes Picnic

13km/8miles                         - shorter route

19km/12miles                       - longer route  

Le Moulin’s leafy valley leads through pastures, woods and orchards. A sylvan lane carpeted in wild garlic leads to a mouth-watering picnic prepared by your hosts, on tables beside the lakes. Chilled rosé and sunlight dappling the table cloth. You may see hoopoe, hen harrier, golden oriole, kingfisher, various woodpeckers and plenty of others. Even a scarce swallowtail butterfly has been seen here.

option 1- Route de Fenioux                                                                                                          26km/16miles

Spring-flowered meadows where otters have been reported. Hazel and walnuts in the autumn hedgerows. The sleepy village of La Fazilière has a waymarked detour to the restored lavoir and steeping-ponds of ancient basket makers. See loads of birds and butterflies.

option 2 - Marais Poitevin (Green Venice)                                                                         9km/5miles, or more

A vast patchwork of canals, pastures and woods, dotted with picturesque “port” villages. Built by medieval monks to tame a vast river delta on the Atlantic. Numerous waymarked walks as well as medieval and renaissance abbeys to explore. Hire a boatman and see the original fire-on-the-water.

option 1 - Butchers Wood                                                                                                            18km/11miles

Southwest to the drowsy village of le Beugnon, la petite suisse and magnificent deciduous forests. A winding Roman road! Cherries, plums, apricots, figs, apples, medlars, walnuts and hazelnuts in the hedgerows (not all at the same time of course). You will see hardly another person on this walk.

option 2 - Mervent Lakes and Forest

5km/3miles                           - short route 

7km/4miles                           - medium route

11km/7miles                                   - long route 

A choice of walks which can be combined for a longer distance. Majestic deciduous forest, winding paths, dappled sunlight and wonderful lake and forest vistas. Visit a lakeside bar, Mervent dam and the grotto de Père de Montford.

Faymoreau                                                                                                                                    10km/6miles

A 15 minute drive from le Moulin brings you to Faymoreau where there is an interesting rural waymarked walk including deciduous forests and small farms. Part of the walk passes along a disused railway cutting where some unusual geology can be seen. Faymoreau is also worthy of note for striking modern stained glass by Carmelo Zagari - a well known French artist - as well as a fascinating exhibition of the lives of miners and their families between 1827 to 1958 when coal mining was carried out in the area.

14 July Walk                                                                                                                                 13km/10miles

We first went on this walk with other villagers of Scillé under the guidance of the mayor, to build up an appetite of the 14 July village lunch in 2008. The charming walk takes in some quaint corners of the commune not covered by other walks.

auberge: Carolynn Grimaldi, le Moulin du Chemin, 79240 Scillé, France

+0033 (0)5 4995 9487 – walking@MoulinHolidays.com

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